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Joaquin Phoenix smokes and struts through the subway dressed in full Joker costume during filming

The actor is shooting a spin-off movie about the famous Batman villain which is set for release in 2019

JOAQUIN Phoenix took a ride on the New York subway in his terrifying Joker costume yesterday.

The actor, 43, was seen smoking and strutting through the station in full clown make-up as he filmed his upcoming movie about the villain in Brooklyn.

Joaquin Phoenix terrified onlookers as he filmed his upcoming movie The Joker on the New York subway yesterday
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Joaquin Phoenix terrified onlookers as he filmed his upcoming movie The Joker on the New York subway yesterdayCredit: The Mega Agency
The actor was seen strutting through the station in full costume and make-up as he shot scenes for the villains stand-alone film
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The actor was seen strutting through the station in full costume and make-up as he shot scenes for the villain's spin-off filmCredit: The Mega Agency

Joaquin shocked onlookers in a bright red suit and the Joker's trademark face paint as he puffed a cigarette on his way to the platform.

Proving the character is as menacing as ever, the star then started to punch and knock out travellers as he nonchalantly strolled through the station.

However, the Gotham police soon clocked on and began to chase after him, causing the actor to escape onto the train - where he joined a number of terrifying mask-clad assistants.

The Joker is set in the 1980s and explores the character’s journey from failed stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck to Batman's most notorious nemesis.

Joaquin looked terrifying in the heavy face paint and a bold red suit as he attempted to blend in, by smoking a cigarette in the station
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Joaquin looked terrifying in the heavy face paint and a bold red suit as strolled through the stationCredit: The Mega Agency
Proving the Joker to be as menacing as ever, the actor started to take out travellers in the station - causing the Gotham police to chase after him
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The character was seen taking out travellers in the station - causing the Gotham police to chase after himCredit: The Mega Agency
The actor proceeded to race onto the train in character to escape
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The actor proceeded to race onto the train in character to escapeCredit: Splash News
He fled through the station with a terrified look on his face, in a desperate bid to join his mask-clad assistants on the train
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He fled through the station with a terrified look on his face in a desperate bid to join his mask-clad assistants on the trainCredit: Splash News
The police were hot on his tails in the thrilling scene
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The police were hot on his tails in the thrilling sceneCredit: Splash News
Joaquin Phoenix seen for the first time in full Joker make-up as he films in NYC

The character's origins have not yet been explored in a live-action film but a number of backstories have been provided over the years through comic books, although none definitive.

Phoenix had previously expressed interest in playing The Joker and admitted he'd like to do a character study of the villain.

He told in July:  "I think, underneath the excitement of these films, and the size of them, there are these incredible characters that are dealing with real life struggles.

"And sometimes that is uncovered and exposed, and sometimes it isn’t, and so I always felt, like, there were characters in comics that were really interesting and deserve the opportunity to be kind of studied."

The scene was made more terrifying by the Jokers masked assistants travelling on the train
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The scene was made more terrifying by the Joker's masked assistants also travelling on the trainCredit: Rex Features
The actor stars as the Joker in the film, set for release in October 2019
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The actor stars as the Joker in the film, set for release in October 2019Credit: The Mega Agency

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When asked if he was nervous to take on such an iconic character, he added: "It feels unique, it is its own world in some ways, and maybe, mostly, it scares the f***ing s*** out of me or something."

The character of The Joker was last played on screen by Jared Leto in Suicide Squad, to tepid reviews.

He was previously portrayed by the late Heath Ledger in 2008’s The Dark Knight, for which he won a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

The Joker is set to be released in the US on October 4 2019.

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